California Injury Blog
Several people were injured February 27, 2009 after an accident involving a boat that came loose from a trailer on the Interstate 5 in Sacramento, according to this KCRA News report. The accident occurred when the boat got unhitched from a pickup truck that was towing it southbound on the freeway, crossed a median into the northbound lanes and smashed into an oncoming car.
I’m relieved that this California auto accident did not result in major injuries or fatalities. There is no question that this could’ve turned out a lot worse. I wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
Trailers such as boats, if not properly secured, can detach and cause tremendous damage to lives and property. According to statistics reported by the Los Angeles Times, there were 540 runaway trailer accidents between 2000 and 2007. These accidents resulted in hundreds of injuries and at least 164 deaths. According to the Web site Dangerous Trailers.org, every week in the Untied States, 418 injuries, eight deaths and 775 incidences of property damage, are caused by runaway trailers. In fact, trailers towed by passenger vehicles that are just one pound under 3,000 pounds are not regulated in most states. The utility trailer industry is apparently trying to block all attempts to improve this class of vehicle in all 50 states.
Accidents involving runaway trailers can lead to catastrophic injuries or death. The speed, size and weight of these trailers increase the intensity of the collision. If a driver’s negligence, use of inadequate equipment or failure to secure the tow correctly causes a trailer to break loose, then that driver could be held liable for any injuries and/or deaths to motorists, passengers, bicyclists or pedestrians